Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia virtually flagged off the Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur flight service.
There is a demand to start international airline from Raipur,Air service should be started from Bilaspur to Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore as well.
The judicial capital i.e. the ‘Nyaydhani’ of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur, was connected to Indore, the financial capital of Madhya Pradesh, through a new flight service commenced today.
This new airline enroute Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur is a major gift for Nyaydhani Bilaspur.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia virtually inaugurated the Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur flight services today.
Chief Minister Baghel from his residence office in the capital city Raipur and Union Minister Scindia from New Delhi virtually flagged off the flight from Bilasa Devi Kenwat Airport, Chakarbhanta Bilaspur.
While congratulating the residents of Bilaspur and Indore on the occasion of the launch of the Bilaspur-Indore airline, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Chhattisgarh Government is making every possible effort to ensure the expansion of the air services and connectivity.
He demanded the commencement of air services from Bilaspur to other major cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore.
Urging the Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start international air service from Swami Vivekananda Airport Raipur and to establish an International Cargo Hub here, Baghel said that Raipur Airport has been developed as per the international standards and is now ready to host the international flights.
Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh Government has provided 461.20 acres of land free of cost to the Airport Authority of India for Raipur Airport, on which runway extension, new terminal building, and construction of ATC tower have been built in accordance with the international standard.
The pending demand for land for airport development, and security-related problems of airport complexes have been resolved by the state government, said Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Baghel also requested Union Minister Scindia to commence air services for cities like Varanasi, Ranchi, Patna, and Bhubaneshwar, while connecting Ambikapur to Bilaspur, Raipur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
Providing information about the efforts of the state government for the expansion of Bilaspur airport, Chief Minister Baghel said that State Government has upgraded the Bilaspur airport to the 3-C VFR category.
Alliance Air Company started the first regular domestic flight from Bilaspur to Delhi-Jabalpur-Bilaspur-Prayagraj on 01 March 2021, and a regular flight from Bilaspur to Bhopal was also started from 05 June 2022.
Speaking about steps being undertaken by the state for further development of Bilaspur airport, Baghel said “The state government has spent nearly Rs 25.10 crore for development of Bilaspur airport and making it functional.
Keeping in view the increase in the number of airlines and air passengers, approval is being given for works worth Rs 1.90 crore for the expansion of the capacity of the existing terminal building.
Approval is being issued for works costing Rs 22 crore to develop Bilaspur airport as per 3-C IFR standard and to develop a night landing facility here.
Besides, the state has paid an amount to the Airports Authority of India for the installation of PBN navigation system for the smooth operation of aircraft from the airport.”
Meanwhile, administrative approval has been issued by the state government for works worth Rs 48 crore for runway development and expansion, and city side development works to develop Ambikapur airport to meet 3-C VFR category standards.
The work for the same is going on at a rapid pace and the application for aerodrome licensing will be submitted by December 31 this year.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the Central Government is ready to provide all possible help for the expansion of aviation services in Chhattisgarh.
Congratulating and extending best wishes to the residents of Bilaspur and Indore on the commencement of this new flight service, he said that the demand for providing a night landing facility at Bilaspur airport is fair, but additional land would be required for the expansion of the runway of the airport.
Chief Minister Baghel said in this regard that 1000 acres of land adjoining Chakarbhata airport was given to the army by the state government.
However, due to non-utilization, the state government is trying to take the land back, which will be utilized for the expansion of the airport.
Scindia said that both the cities of Bilaspur and Indore are of great importance economically and religiously and the commencement of flight services between the two will be beneficial for residents of both cities.
Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur flights four days a week
Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur flight service will be available four days a week including Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
The flight from Bilaspur will depart at 11:35 am and reach Indore at 1:25pm. Similarly, the return flight from Indore will depart at 1:55 pm and will reach Bilaspur at 3:45 pm.
Around 50 passengers boarded the first flight today from Bilaspur to Indore. The 72-seater aircraft is being operated by Alliance Air on this route.
Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and Indore MP Shankar Lalwani joined the programme virtually from Indore.
Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Rashmi Singh, Bilaspur MP Arun Sao, MLA Dharamlal Kaushik andShailesh Pandey, Mayor Ramsharan Yadav, Bilaspur Zila Panchayat President Arun Chauhan, Apex Bank Chairman Baijnath Chandrakar, Tourism Board President Atal Shrivastava, District Co-operative Bank Bilaspur President Pramod Nayak, Krishi Upaj Mandi Board Chairman Rajendra Shukla along with many public representatives were present.
Secretary Aviation Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi and Director Aviation N.N. Ekka were present at the Chief Minister’s residence.